304 SHOOTING. 



better weapon for any other jungle game ; the vul- 

 nerable, or more properly speaking the vital, parts 

 of a tiger or leopard present a mark which must be 

 deemed small when the excitement perhaps not 

 unmingled with something like fear attending the 

 rencontre is taken into consideration ; and when en- 

 gaged with such animals, precision of aim is essen- 

 tial to the personal safety of the sportsman. We 

 give Major Forbes's description of another kind of 

 sport he is speaking of the interior of Ceylon : 

 " Wild buffaloes, though commonly found in the 

 thinly inhabited districts of the flat country, are 

 very rarely seen near the mountains; they are 

 strong and fierce, and the form of their head is 

 such that a ball fired against it is apt to glance off. 

 For this reason, sportsmen accustomed to buffalo- 

 shooting prefer aiming at the shoulder ; and, to 

 insure a fair shot, the best way is for two persons 

 to place themselves so that one may be opposite to 

 the side of the animal when it charges at the other 

 in front. A wild buffalo, intending to attack any 

 one, advances in a curved line, with the head down 

 and inclined sideways, in such a manner that one 

 horn is advanced. Their courage and perseverance 

 in attack are as remarkable as their tenacity of 

 life ; therefore, good guns of a large size are quite 

 as necessary in buffalo as in elephant shooting." 

 In 1826, it was found necessary to destroy an ele- 

 phant in Exeter 'Change. A detachment of foot 

 guards was called in, and directed by surgeons 

 where to fire ; and 152 rounds of ammunition were 

 expended before the animal was disabled. This 



